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GSLGlobal Systems Laboratory

The Global Systems Laboratory of NOAA conducts world-class applied research.

Forecast systems that deliver solutions.

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Organizational Excellence

GSL strives to advance its workforce scientifically, technically, and professionally. GSL is committed to increased diversity and inclusion as well as a strong foundation for succession planning and career growth. GSL hosts team-building and training, conducts annual retreats and employee satisfaction surveys, and provides leadership opportunities to early- and mid-career staff to contribute to GSL and develop professionally. GSL also values long-term research continuity across research areas. While GSL’s Grand Challenge is a scientific and technical goal, a healthy organization invested in GSL’s mission will enable the collaboration and innovation needed to achieve this goal.

Earth System Prediction

GSL is a world leader in the development of storm-scale to global-scale weather prediction models, aligning GSL research with NOAA's objectives to build a holistic understanding of the Earth system and an integrated environmental modeling system while contributing to the Unified Forecast System. Recent successes are NOAA’s hourly-updating Rapid Refresh (RAP) and the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) high-impact weather prediction models. The RAP and HRRR predict atmospheric variables relevant to severe weather, aviation weather, the wind energy industry, and fire weather.

Advanced Technologies

GSL is a world leader in advancing new technologies and methods in computing, modeling, visualization, data access, and information delivery to support NOAA’s Earth system prediction and decision support capabilities. GSL research includes using innovative numerical methods and software design that improve the performance, portability, and scientific accuracy of models running on next-generation exascale computers. The advanced computing efforts in GSL are the foundation of virtually all High Performance Computing methods used in NOAA operations and research.

Decision Support

GSL’s history was forged in developing tools that support the weather decision-making process. Decision support tool development began in the early 1980s with the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), and is continuing now with incremental deployments of GSL’s Hazard Services system to NWS offices. Hazard Services streamlines NWS watch, warning, and advisory-related services into one interface and can be customized for each office, region, or type of weather.